Why Supergirl could be DC's feel-good TV hero

The first trailer for the upcoming Supergirltelevision series has hit the web, and in contrast to her cousin's recent cinematic outings it looks set to offer viewers action, hope and -- dare we say it -- even a sense of fun.

The series features Melissa Benoist in the lead role of Kara Zor-El, who has been raised on Earth as Kara Danvers and kept her powers a secret. Now aged 24, she's forced to reveal her abilities to save a downed flight her adoptive sister Alex is on, leading to her taking on an active superhero role.

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For a TV budget, it's looking pretty impressive. The action scenes are big screen worthy, particularly the plane rescue, and Kara's joy at getting to grips with her powers is already a lot of fun to watch. The costume looks great, better in motion than the early static shots indicated, and Supergirl's actions are actually heroic, a far cry from the darker direction the DC movies have taken. Her civilian life looks like it might trend a little too heavily on the Clark Kent style "dork by day" approach, with Kara working at a media corporation disguised in unflattering clothes and oversized specs, but hopefully this will evolve as the series matures.

Benoist is best known from Glee, where she appeared as vocalist Marley Rose in the fourth season. Supergirl will also feature Mehcad Brooks as Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen. Although only seen in a literally blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot in the trailer (after young Kara is sent away from Krypton) former TV Superman Dean Cain will appear as Kara's adoptive father Fred Danvers, and Helen Slater -- who played Supergirl in the 1984 movie -- as her mother, Sylvia.

While the series is set to air on CBS -- with no UK broadcaster yet confirmed -- series producer Greg Berlanti has said there's no reason Supergirl couldn't cross over with the popular Arrow and The Flash series, both also based on DC Comics. Considering the lukewarm reception to 2013's Man of Steel, which rebooted Superman in a darker image, the brighter superheroics of Supergirl and the other DC TV shows could be more of a success with viewers.

Although the shadow of Superman hangs over Supergirl -- both the character and the series -- the big blue boy scout isn't set to appear in the show. That's probably for the best, allowing the character to fly on her own merits. The showrunners are already playing on her uniqueness with the tagline "It's not a bird. It's not a plane. It's not a man." If Supergirl can keep up the charm and hasn't burned out its effects budget on the pilot, this could be the most promising DC show on TV.